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O’Fallon approves regulations for sale and amateur use of fireworks

September 19, 2019124 Views

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On Sept. 12, the O’Fallon City Council approved regulations for the sale and amateur use of fireworks, replacing the current outright ban on the sale and use of non-professional fireworks in the city. After a second reading, a revised bill [No. 7119.1] sponsored by council members Dr. Jim Ottomeyer [Ward 4] and Dave Hinman [Ward 1] passed by a vote of 9 to 0 with Ottomeyer excused.

Wording in the bill sets up a de facto two-year test period because only dates in 2020 and 2021 were specified. The city must amend the regulations prior to June 15, 2022, or else the amateur use of fireworks will no longer be legal.

Provisions in the revised bill include:

• Sale and storage of fireworks in the city limits will be allowed only from June 15 through July 5, unless a competent person or company obtains a permit issued by the mayor or city administrator.

• Fireworks use will be allowed within the city limits on July 3 and July 4 in the years 2020 and 2021 between the hours of noon and 11 p.m. on private property with the consent of the owner, or with a permit.

• The mayor or city administrator for parks and other public places may issue a permit to competent persons for fireworks displays, provided that such displays shall be prohibited after 10 p.m. on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and after 11 p.m. on July 3 and July 4, or any Friday or Saturday.

• Persons under the age of 16 may possess or use of fireworks only on private property with the consent of the owner and while in the presence of a responsible adult at least 21 years of age, and only on July 3 and July 4 in the years 2020 and 2021 between the hours of noon and 11 p.m.

John Tremmel

John Tremmel is a freelance news reporter covering O’Fallon government. He has lived in the greater St. Louis area for 45 years, with the past 20 being in O’Fallon. He also lived in Cleveland OH, Dover DE and Atlanta GA. He is a graduate of UMSL evening college, with a BS in Business Administration and a minor in Political Science. John retired after a 46-year career in the banking and insurance industries, including his last seven years as an executive with international responsibilities and considerable travel to other countries. He and his wife have a daughter, son-in-law, and two grandchildren, also living in O’Fallon. He is happy that his grandchildren now can beat him at golf.